AFCON 2019 Qualifiers Conclude: The 24 Qualified Nations for Egypt Revealed
The curtain has officially fallen on the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. After the final matches of the sixth and last matchday, the identities of the 24 national teams that will take part in the continental showpiece in Egypt are now known. Following months of intense competition across Africa, the qualified nations have earned their place at the biggest football event on the continent.
Scheduled to take place in June and July 2019, the Africa Cup of Nations will be hosted by Egypt, who qualify automatically as the host nation. They will be joined by a diverse group of teams representing all regions of Africa, combining established powerhouses with emerging nations making historic breakthroughs.
Among the traditional heavyweights, Senegal, Morocco, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Tunisia, Cameroon, Algeria, and Mali all successfully navigated the qualifiers. These nations, regular contenders at AFCON tournaments, will once again aim to challenge for the prestigious trophy. Senegal, finalists in 2002, impressed with their consistency, while Algeria and Nigeria showed strong form throughout the campaign.
Several teams, however, made headlines by achieving remarkable milestones. Burundi secured a historic qualification, reaching the Africa Cup of Nations finals for the first time in their history. Madagascar also celebrated an unprecedented achievement, confirming their rapid rise on the continental stage by qualifying for their maiden AFCON tournament. Mauritania, continuing its steady progress, will also participate once again.
Other notable qualifiers include Guinea-Bissau and Namibia, both of whom booked their tickets after dramatic final-day scenarios. Guinea-Bissau will appear in their second consecutive AFCON, while Namibia returns to the tournament for the first time since 2008, marking an important moment for football development in the country.
East African football will be well represented, with Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania all qualifying. Tanzania’s qualification was particularly symbolic, as the Taifa Stars return to the Africa Cup of Nations after a 39-year absence, while Uganda continues its resurgence with another appearance at the continental finals.
Southern Africa also made its presence felt. South Africa, who secured the final qualification spot after a decisive victory over Libya, will return to AFCON after missing the previous edition. Zimbabwe also confirmed their place with a strong campaign, underlining their growing competitiveness.
Central Africa will be represented by Cameroon, the reigning African champions, as well as the Democratic Republic of Congo, who sealed qualification on the final day. Meanwhile, Guinea and Angola complete the list of qualifiers with solid and disciplined performances throughout the qualifiers.
Below is the official list of the 24 countries qualified for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt:
Senegal, Madagascar, Morocco, Cameroon, Mali, Burundi, Algeria, Benin, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Angola, Mauritania, Tunisia, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, Uganda, Tanzania.
With the qualifiers concluded, attention now turns to the tournament draw and preparations ahead of what promises to be a thrilling Africa Cup of Nations. Egypt 2019 is set to showcase the best of African football, blending experience, emerging talent, and historic first-time participants in a competition that continues to grow in prestige and excitement.
